Shirley K Schlafer Foundation
The Shirley K Schlafer Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1985 and based in Birmingham, Michigan. The foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on education, environmental education, professional societies and associations, and youth development.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.8M
-10.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$386K
-79.4% YoY
Grant Count
9
-18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
-74.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Shirley K Schlafer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $133K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding interests include:
- Education
- Environmental Education
- Professional Societies & Associations
- Youth Development
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Grant Range
$1,000–$125,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Michigan.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $1,851,168
- Annual Giving: $313,500–$376,000
- Giving Rate: 20.4% of assets
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,843,419 | $2,048,209 | $3,654,289 |
| Revenue | $233,081 | $328,030 | $838,960 |
| Expenses | $437,871 | $1,934,110 | $1,855,699 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $400,387 | $1,888,387 | $1,767,552 |
| Net Investment Income | $195,597 | $285,352 | $783,866 |
| Distributable Amount | $133,252 | $153,809 | $242,370 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
50 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Geographic Society ($125,000), University of Michigan ($90,000), North Star Reach ($60,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANN ARBOR ART CENTER ANN ARBOR, MI | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| CRANBROOK SCHOOLS BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI | CHARITABLE; SCHOLARSHIPS | $10,000 |
| MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART DETROIT DETROIT, MI | CHARITABLE; MUSEUM MAINTENANCE & EDUCATION | $50,000 |
| NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY WASHINGTON, DC | CHARITABLE; ANIMAL EDUCATION & HEALTHCARE | $125,000 |
| NORTH STAR REACH PINCKNEY, MI | CHARITABLE | $60,000 |
| NROC CARMEL, CA | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| PEWABIC POTTERY SOCIETY DETROIT, MI | CHARITABLE | $150 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD ANN ARBOR, MI | CHARITABLE; REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE | $1,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR, MI | EMERGING SCHOLARS AND WOMEN'S HEALTH INNOVATION FUND | $90,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDITH S BRISKIN | CHAIRMAN/TREASURER | 10 | $14,430 |
Contact Information
Address: 727 Willits Street, Birmingham, MI 48009-3309
Telephone: 248-375-7827
EIN: 38-2637259
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Shirley K Schlafer Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding interests include: • Education • Environmental Education • Professional Societies & Associations • Youth Development • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from Shirley K Schlafer Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $313,500–$376,000 • Number of grants: 7 grants annually • Grant range: $1,000–$125,000 • Median grant size: $50,000 • Typical awards: $150–$1,503,250 **Application Policy:** The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Grantmaking is by invitation only.
Where does Shirley K Schlafer Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in Michigan.
What size grants does Shirley K Schlafer Foundation award?
In 2024, Shirley K Schlafer Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $386K — an average of about $43K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Shirley K Schlafer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Shirley K Schlafer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $133K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Shirley K Schlafer Foundation's EIN?
Shirley K Schlafer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2637259. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Shirley K Schlafer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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